The use of temporary accommodation for homeless families is a growing phenomenon in rural areas

According to research by the County Councils Network (CCN), 23,186 children in county and rural areas were living in temporary accommodation in March 2026, an increase of 74% over the previous six years, compared with a national increase of 38%.  Over the same period, the number of households in temporary accommodation in county and rural areas had increased by 80% to 22,230, while the national increase was only 48%.  Between 2019/20 and 2024/25, spending on TA in those councils had increased by 201% to £373million, with 24% of households based in expensive "nightly paid" accommodation at the time of the snapshot.  The CCN called on the government to update the basis of the subsidy paid to local authorities for providing this accommodation, which is still capped at 90% of Local Housing Allowance rates from 2011.